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Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

scientificamerican.com

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Re: Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

#11

Post by jaredandrews »

js2 wrote: post #6
bradknowles wrote: post #2

According to my Radio Shack SPL meter, I can hit at least 127 decibels — which is where the meter tops out. Now, I have not yet replicated that process in a more controlled test, in a suitably calibrated environment. But I would be interested to do so.

Here's Jaime Vendera (measured at 120 db) doing it: https://youtu.be/QGk8nXs6Aao Apparently unless you're at the resonant frequency you need over 163 db to shatter glass: http://decibelcar.com/menugeneric/87.html

From the article:

> "Even if you could excite the cup, that doesn't guarantee it would break. Fracture depends on the size of the initial defects."

I have to wonder if Jaime tapping the glass with a spoon in that video not only reveals the frequency he needs, but more crucially introduces tiny fractures.

Re: Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

#13

Post by cjsuk »

jaredandrews wrote: post #11
js2 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's Jaime Vendera (measured at 120 db) doing it: https://youtu.be/QGk8nXs6Aao Apparently unless you're at the resonant frequency you need over 163 db to shatter glass: http://decibelcar.com/menugeneric/87.html

From the article: > "Even if you could excite the cup, that doesn't guarantee it would break. Fracture depends on the size of the initial defects." I have to wonder if Jaime tapping the glass with a spoon in that video not only reveals the frequency he needs, but more crucially introduces tiny fractures.

Probably no worse than what it was subjected to in the production and shipping process.

Re: Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

#14

Post by kisslaay »

mikikian wrote: post #3

"It's possible, but you have to be both good and lucky," says Jeffrey Kysar, a mechanical engineer at Columbia University who studies the different ways in which materials can fracture and fail.

If that's a yes you should read about 'Tansen'.

"Among the legends about Tansen are stories of his bringing down the rains with Raga Megh Malhar and lighting lamps by performing Raga Deepak."

Re: Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

#15

Post by Kiro »

kyled wrote: post #8

They did this on Mythbusters and showed it was possible.

I take it you didn't read the article.

> Yet, it seems that until a couple of years ago there was no proof that any person had ever broken glass with his or her voice alone.

> Then in 2005 the Discovery Channel television show MythBusters tackled the question [...]

Re: Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

#19

Post by coldtea »

Kiro wrote: post #15
kyled wrote: post #8

They did this on Mythbusters and showed it was possible.

I take it you didn't read the article. > Yet, it seems that until a couple of years ago there was no proof that any person had ever broken glass with his or her voice alone. > Then in 2005 the Discovery Channel television show MythBusters tackled the question [...]

>Yet, it seems that until a couple of years ago there was no proof that any person had ever broken glass with his or her voice alone. Then in 2005 the Discovery Channel television show MythBusters ...*

Considering that we have had witnesses reporting that tons of times in the last 200 years, and written records of such acts (by journalists), and everything, this is a peculiar version of "proof".

Re: Fact or Fiction?: An Opera Singer's Piercing Voice Can Shatter Glass

#20

Post by dx034 »

camus2 wrote: post #7

"too long didn't click": the answer is yes.

No, the answer is that while possible, only few people are able to produce sounds that high and loud and even they won't be able to shatter any glass. Fractures in the glass are more important, a glass in perfect condition cannot be destroyed by a singer without amplification.

I actually found the article not clickbaity at all, I knew about the Mythbusters episode and resonant frequencies before but still learned something new.

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